School

How do I know my child is safe when they go to school?
The best way to answer questions about your child's safety is to contact the school administrators or your local PTA. With all of the cases of school violence heard on the news, school safety is a major concern for many parents. However, schools are working towards safer environments. Many high schools and even some middle schools now have a police officer on duty throughout the school day and for extracurricular activities sponsored by the school. Most schools also pay close attention to who is coming in and out of their schools requiring all visitors to check in at the front office which is usually located directly in front of the school's main entrance. To find out what precautions your school is taking to keep students safe you need to contact them or your local Board of Education.

What are the symptoms of ADD/ADHD?
ADD (attention deficit disorder)/ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) affect 5% of today's children. The first thing for parents and teachers to understand is that ADD children are not bad children. They really want to be good but because of their disorder they cannot control themselves. Children suffering from ADD/ADHD have trouble paying attention, are hyperactive, have trouble listening and following directions, are forgetful and may lose things, and are frustrated easily. Since some of these symptoms are somewhat present in all children, to be diagnosed these signs need to be frequent and severe and must be noticeable by the age of 7. There are also both parent and teacher monitoring tools to help determine what a child needs. However, it is very important that parents take children to a mental health professional as soon as they suspect ADD/ADHD. Mental health professionals are the only ones who can tell for sure if a child suffers from ADD and ADHD.

My teen doesn't want me at school, how can I still be involved without invading their space?
First of all, don't get defensive when your child no longer wants you involved. All kids go through a stage where they want their independence. This does not mean that they do not love you, it just means that they are growing up. However, there are still ways to be involved without invading your teen's freedom. The PTA is an excellent way to be involved. This allows you to hear what is going on in the school and meet parents. Allow your child to have parties or activities at your house. If you show your teen that you trust them and their choices, they will be more willing to share things with you. Form a network with other parents in your neighborhood so you can keep each other informed. This is a good way of knowing what is going on. Most of the time kids will rotate houses trying to sneak things past their parents but with a close-knit group of parents, you will know more of what is happening. Take advantage of back to school nights and parent/teacher conferences. Although your child may get upset that you are going to school, it is the best way to make sure your teen is doing ok in the classroom.

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